5' 8" 170 lbs dude in the same boat. Wrestling and Judo background but train more BJJ now and am usually the smallest (and oldest) dude in the class. Gym owner and one of the other coaches are UFC/PFL vets and both guys are high level BJJ BBs. Plenty of hobbyists in the class but many are huge and strong AF with most being 190 to 240 lbs. Those dudes are easy to handle as newish white belts but a significantly heavier, stronger blue belt+ keeps you honest unless you're MUCH more skilled.
Don't benchmark yourself against heavier dudes if they're anywhere near your skill level. It's good to roll with those guys sometimes but if you only train with bigger, stronger dudes who are good enough to keep you on defense, your game will become purely defensive and you won't win shit in competition. You NEED offensive reps to build your submission game and the best way to get that is against dudes you can handle without having to muscle everything just to survive. Go to the fundamentals class, open mat and/or crosstrain at other gyms to get that. White belts are your friends.
High level guys of any weight are a special case so don't expect to be hanging with them unless you're same level. But against regular BJJ guys, your wrestling background should give you an edge in TDs, top control base and wrestling up into singles or doubles. I still tend to turtle out of guard passes a lot, especially against bigger guys but that's only effective if you can then convert by wrestling up into a reversal or stand up. Otherwise, you're still stuck under a bigger dude and that always sucks.
You need to get good at passing guard, which is probably new to you if you're just now transitioning to BJJ. Wrestling is a great base to build from, but you're used to bottom guy immediately going to turtle/referee's position instead of playing guard.
When you're playing guard, I think butterfly/knee shield/coyote guard chains well with a wrestling game. From an underhook, I like to wrestle up into dogfight position which is bread and butter for a wrestler.
I struggle in top side control and whenever I take their back. Top half guard feels best
Side control should be a strong position for you but if you're like me, you just need to learn to hold top position for longer than you're accustomed to in wrestling. There's no 5 count near fall and then pin in BJJ. You need to hold near fall position for 30 seconds, a minute or however long until dude gives up a sub. Learn to use shoulder pressure to keep guy's head turned away from you with your palm down under his neck (or gripping lapel behind his neck). With your other hand, shovel under his hips with palm down. This will prevent him from turning into you - all he can do is turn away which gives up his back (good for you in BJJ). Also become smooth at going to NS and back to side control to maintain top position.
For back control, I really like the spiral ride. And most BJJ guys aren't going to be posting up in turtle like a wrestler. So you can go straight to wrist ride and use that to throw in a far side leg ride. Then roll dude over and you're in back mount. Then holding the wrist ride, slip in a one-arm RNC with the other arm and gable grip that shit for the finish.
